Oregon High School Counselor Faces Backlash Over Children's Book on 'Chosen Family'

A children's book authored by an Oregon high school counselor has drawn sharp criticism after a promotional video clip resurfaced online, with conservative critics contending the work encourages young children to prioritize bonds outside their biological families. Madi Bourdon, a counselor at Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts, wrote "A Kids Book About Chosen Family," which an Amazon listing describes as targeted at children ages 5 to 9.

The Book's Core Argument

Bourdon's book centers on the concept of "chosen family," described in the listing as "people who love, see, and support you for being your truest self." Speaking in the clip that circulated Thursday via the X account Libs of TikTok, Bourdon framed the book as a conversation-starter rather than a directive. "This book is just the invitation to discuss the importance of finding your people, those who see and love you for you, biological or not," she said.

Bourdon elaborated that "members of one's biological family are not always the people who are family in the ways that matter." She tied the book's premise to the current political moment, citing what she described as legislation targeting underrepresented communities and the normalization of hateful rhetoric, arguing that chosen families can offer "a unique alternative" during a period of intense division.

Conservative Backlash

The Libs of TikTok post characterized the book as telling children they can "cut off their parents and find a new family" if those parents are not accepting of their gender identity — a framing that amplified criticism across conservative accounts on X. Jennifer McWilliams, co-founder of Courage Is A Habit, wrote in a Wednesday post that Bourdon "believes children should choose their family & the family they were born to is NOT more important than a 'Chosen Family.'"

The clip drew additional attention to Bourdon's office background, which featured what appeared to be a Pride flag, a "Black Lives Matter" sign displaying a Black power fist, and other posters and illustrations.

School District Declines to Engage

Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts did not address the substance of the criticism. A school district spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the district does not comment on the private activities of employees, nor does it have any involvement in books authored by private individuals in a personal capacity. The statement left unresolved whether the district intends to review the matter further.